I've only been 'collecting' since Feb 06 but received my first doll from my lovely mother when I was little.
I named her Abby (Pictured above on the right). She's a US Brunette Top Knot bought here in Australia in 1986 which would have made me about 11 years old. She was a Christmas Gift and was meant to be a surprise from Santa, but I sliced a small hole in the wrapping paper and peeked in 3 days before Christmas. She needed to be able to breathe!!! I was so excited about having her and was also relieved to see she wasn't a darn ugly Cabbage Patch doll. (sorry to those CPK people out there, but it's TRUE!!)

To me, she is magical, special and priceless and I love her dearly. My second time falling for these girls occurred when I found Abby in the cupboard and felt this sense of urgency to restore her. She looked terrible and dirty, but still had her outfit (a Pastel Sailor outfit), Oxfords, Socks, Nappy and all of her original part still intact. I think this urgency was apparent due to the doll reminding me of my Mum whom passed away in 1995 at the age of 55. I jumped on the web and found 2 WONDERFUL ladies who helped me clean her up and make her beautiful again. Thank you dear friend Bonnie (US) and Pam (NZ). Your patience and expertise were such a great help and fired my passion.

Since restoring Abby in Feb of 06, I have subsequently restored over 100 dolls within an 18 month time frame. Over 80 of my own dolls and over 65 for other MC parents all around the world. I have dolls in all sorts of conditions. Some were just sad sad sad little dolly's, where others just amazingly mint and stunning. I chose my dolly's by their faces and not by their monetary value. I am currently retired from restoring (completely overwhelmed) and I will only be restoring my own babies from now on.

I have been blessed to have met some champion ladies in the hobby, and some downright scary ones, but I treasure all those special ladies who made my MC collecting pure joy. You all know who you are!!